Education in peril, say Jaffna students

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 September 2006, 14:54 GMT]"Students will continue their struggle and abstain from schools until the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) respects students' education and facilitates creating an environment conducive for education," said Jaffna Students Consortium in a memorandum released to the press Sunday, in response to an appeal by the Palaly Military command urging Jaffna students to attend schools on Monday, sources in Jaffna said.

Starting from 9th September students across Jaffna district have been boycotting schools protesting against the closing of schools in Thenmaradchy, and against the difficulties faced by the students and families in adhering to the military imposed curfew hours that conflicted with school opening times.

"Despite several appeals to Sri Lanka's President and the officials of the Department of Education to take constructive measures to bring the education in Jaffna to normalcy, the authorities have shown little proclivity in addressing students' concerns," said the memorandum by the students.

"Students will not be able to pursue educational activities while escalating incidents of abduction of youth, killings and threats have created an environment of fear for students' safety, and urgent action should be taken to create a condition of normalcy," the memorandum said.

The memorandum also pointed out that several Jaffna University students who were visiting their homes in different parts of NorthEast are unable to return to their campuses because of the security situation.

The memorandum concluded that the students will continue the boycott until the concerns of the students are addressed and a climate of normalcy is returned so that students can pursue their education without any fear for their safety.